Hares Ear Nymph This is a great all round general nymph pattern. Use weighted and unweighted versions and prospect with it.
Hook: 10-18 Wet fly ( Kamasan B170 ) Thread: Brown or black Tail: Partridge or Coc De Leon fibres Body: Hares ear fur Thorax cover: Pheasant tail fibres Thorax: Hares ear fur well picked out
Pheasant Tail Nymph Another good all rounder, but especially effective as a baetis nymph ( small and blue winged olives and iron blues ) Again try weighted and unweighted ones.
Hook: 12-18 Wet fly ( Kamasan B170 ) Thread: Brown or black Tail: Pheasant tail fibres Body: Pheasant tail fibres Rib: Gold wire Thorax cover: Pheasant tail fibres Thorax: Hares ear well picked out, or you can form legs with the tips of the pheasant tail.
Copper Fox Squirrel Nymph This a good early season fly when fished czech style. It can also be tied without the bead and smaller with a tungsten head to represent different nymphs. But the large copper one is great as a caddis fly nymph/ stonefly imitation in fast water.
Hook: 10-16 Longshank nymph ( Partridge YH1A ) Thread: Black Tail: Red fox squirrel fibres Body: Red fox squirrel belly fur Rib: Gold tinsel Thorax: Red fox squirrel back fur Head: 3 or 4 mm copper bead
Shrimp The Don has an abundance of freshwater shrimp and they tend to be a dull straw/light olive colour. It is an effective pattern to fish czech style.
Hook: 12-14 Grub ( Kamasan B110 ) Thread: Straw or light orange Body: Dirty straw coloured dubbing Back: Clear flexibody Rib: Copper wire Bead: Orange hot head
Czech Style Nymphs This is an effective fly on the Don when worked through some of the Pocket water areas. There is an abundance of Hydropsyche and ryhacophilia nymphs, so take green and cream/tan versions.
Hook: 8-12 Grub ( TMC 206 BL ) Underbody: Tungsten or lead wire Thread: Black Body: Cream or green seals fur Rib: Gold tinsel or wire Thorax: Hares ear Back: Tan flexibody Optional: Pheasant tail legs. ( as seen on the green one )
I hope you find this fly selection useful and informative.
This list will be a fluid one and as such, if any patterns emerge as being superior to those included, then the list will be amended.
Tightlines to all.
Sandy Nelson
website designed and produced by local angler Mike Barrio